SIMCA CG Spider yellow 1972 - An exceptional model car
This magnificent yellow 1972 SIMCA CG Spider represents one of the most emblematic models of the Franco-Italian collaboration in sports cars. This faithfully reproduced model car captures all the elegance and dynamism of this exceptional roadster, the result of the cooperation between Simca and the Italian coachbuilder Ghia.
Designed for collectors passionate about French cars from the 1970s, this piece is a must-have for any collection dedicated to European sports cars from this golden decade.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: CG Spider
- Brand: SIMCA
- Year: 1972
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: Yellow
- Protective case included: Yes
The real model: a Franco-Italian sports car
The SIMCA CG Spider was born in 1967 from Simca's desire to offer a French alternative to the British roadsters that dominated the European market at the time. Developed in collaboration with the renowned Turin-based coachbuilder Ghia, this two-seater sports car perfectly embodies the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.
Equipped with the 1204cc engine from the Simca 1100, the CG developed 80 horsepower, allowing it to reach 170 km/h. Its fluid and elegant lines, designed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, made it one of the most beautiful sports cars of its time. The fiberglass bodywork ensured a low weight of only 750 kg.
Despite its undeniable qualities, only 294 examples left the Bairoil workshops between 1967 and 1975, making the CG Spider one of the rarest French sports cars of this period.
SIMCA: French sporting ambition
In 1972, the year this model was produced, SIMCA was undergoing a period of innovation under the aegis of Chrysler Europe. The fishmonger brand, founded in 1934 by Henri Théodore Pigozzi, had established itself as a major player in the French automotive industry thanks to popular models like the Aronde and the 1000.
The CG Spider adventure was part of Simca's diversification strategy, which was seeking to conquer the premium segment. This approach, while bold, demonstrated the French brand's ambition to compete with European manufacturers in all segments, from city cars to exceptional sports cars.
This period also marks the peak of French creativity in automotive design, with international collaborations that will give birth to models that have become legendary.
The anecdote: when France dreamed of competing with Italy
The story of the SIMCA CG Spider perfectly illustrates the ambitions and contradictions of the French automobile industry in the 1970s. Designed to compete with the Alfa Romeo Spider and other Fiat 124 Sport, this French sports car hides a tasty anecdote linked to its marketing.
Indeed, despite its Franco-Italian design, the CG Spider was assembled in the workshops of Bairoil, a small company specializing in vehicle transformation. This artisanal production partly explains the remarkable quality of finish of each example, but also its high price which placed it at the level of the most prestigious Italian sports cars.
Ironically, this car, designed to democratize French sportiness, has become, due to its rarity, one of the most sought-after French sports cars among collectors. Today, a good-condition example can fetch considerable sums, transforming this "anti-elitist" into the ultimate luxury item.
This contradiction between the initial intentions and the final destiny of the CG Spider perfectly reflects the era of the Trente Glorieuses, when the French industry oscillated between popular ambitions and premium aspirations , sometimes despite itself creating exceptional collector's items.
Complete your model car collection
This yellow SIMCA CG Spider fits perfectly into a collection dedicated to SIMCA model cars , but also finds its place among model car convertibles and other collector roadsters .
French car enthusiasts will find it an ideal complement to other French sports cars, while 1970s enthusiasts will be able to enrich their panorama of this exceptional automotive decade.
This model car is particularly aimed at discerning collectors looking for rare and authentic models, witnesses to a time when French industry still dared to challenge established codes. It also constitutes an excellent entry point to discover the world of exceptional sports cars and classics from 1950 to 1979 , thus enriching any collection dedicated to European automotive heritage.
